His CAPTORS. 113 



Sperm Whale Disgorging. Sperm Whale Feeding. 



and it is supported principally by the squid, 

 otherwise called cuttle-fish, or Sepia Octopus, 

 of which one sperm whale that we have lately 

 captured disgorged pieces as long as the whale 

 boat, before going into its flurry. 



From what I have observed myself and have 

 been told by others, it appears that when this 

 whale is inclined to feed, he goes to a certain 

 depth below the surface, and there remains in 

 an oblique position, as quiet as possible, open- 

 ing his vast elongated mouth like a great bag- 

 net, until the lower jaw hangs down perpendic- 

 ularly, or at right angles with the body. The 

 roof of his mouth, the tongue, and especially 

 the teeth, being of a glistening white color, 

 must of course present a remarkable appear- 

 ance, which seems to be that which attracts his 

 prey. When a sufficient number of other fish, 

 or quantity of the squid, as the case may be, 

 are within the mouth, he rapidly closes his jaw 

 and swallows the contents. 



When this creature is fatally struck or kill- 

 ed while in the act of feeding, the whalemen 

 will soon know the items of its last bill of fare ; 

 for, while the waters around are purpled with 

 its gore, and a crimson tide is flowing from its 

 H 



